Telangana Health Department Inspects 27 ART Centres in Illegal Egg Collection Case

UPDATE - follow-up to Illegal oocyte collection racket: 27 ART centres inspected across Telangana, notices issued to seven hospitals: Telangana Health Department officials have inspected 27 of the 44 identified Assisted Reproductive Technology facilities across the State as part of an ongoing probe into an alleged illegal oocyte collection racket.

Action and Findings

Task force teams inspected IVF centres for four days following directions from Health Minister C. Damodar Rajanarasimha. Officials found 13 regulatory violations in seven hospitals and issued show-cause notices to their management teams. Further inspections at the remaining facilities are currently underway.

Investigation Details

Authorities are examining records seized by the police alongside data from the National ART and Surrogacy Registry in New Delhi. Department officials visited the registry office on November 6 to collect details about registered clinics and banks in Telangana. The probe also covers the involvement of specific women, doctors, IVF centres, and intermediaries accused of helping run these activities.

Context

State regulations require all ART clinics and banks to follow the provisions of the Assisted Reproductive Technology Act and Rules, including mandatory registration. The department has also warned women against financial offers and false promises from intermediaries that could lead to unauthorized medical procedures.